The former Mexican estate of drug lord Pablo Escobar which sat abandoned for years following his death in 1993 has been transformed into a stunning boutique resort.
Situated on the coast of trendy Tulum, Mexico the estate had been long forgotten until its re-discovery by New York-based art aficionado Lio Malca in 2012 who has transformed it into a gorgeous, art-filled, high end resort.
Designed to merge the world’s greatest contemporary art with pure relaxation and bliss, Casa Malca sits on one of Mexico’s most sought-after beaches. The ambiance of the property is that of a low-key beach house. Marketed as an Eco-Resort the hotel has 42 rooms, each of them just steps from the white sandy beach.
The resort’s oversized front door is made of an assortment of tree trunks; antique furniture pieces hang like swings nearby. Even after all of Malca’s modern renovations, the property’s roots still shine through. The rooms are decorated in a neutral palette with bright accents of colors. Floor to ceiling glass doors give every room a ton of natural light and the polished concrete floors make sand a breeze to sweep away.
The hotel has two restaurants serving Yucatan cuisine such as grilled fish with habaneros. The main restaurant, Philosophy, serves Mexican food with an international spin. The rooftop bar has panoramic views of the ocean, beach, and Yucatan jungle.
There's also a hidden underground steam room that lights up in different colours like a James Turrell installation, and exits directly to the pool.
Locally made hammocks slung between palms and wooden cabanas on the sand provide ample opportunities to lie and relax. The resort is a breath of fresh air in a region otherwise dominated by massive, generic, big name, all-inclusive resorts.
Rooms start from €343 a night for a garden view junior suite, and €560 a night for a master suite. To check availability visit MILLIONAIRE ESCAPES
